The Analysis of Lord Voldemort’s Character in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince
Radik Darmawan,S.S.,M.Pd
Abstract
This research is aimed to find the character type of Lord Voldemort as described in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince and the most dominant character of Lord Voldemort using a formalistic and psychological approach. To gain a deeper understanding of the results, the writer formulates the problem by making the following questions: (1) what are the characters type of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince novel?, (2) what is the dominant character of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince Novel?. In the process of study and analysis of the character type of the main characters in the Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince novel, the writer uses a formalistic and psychological approach to analyze, examine and understand some of the main character’s personality in a novel. The writer also conducts library research in completing this analysis. The theory used in analyzing the character until finally found one dominant character of the main character
Introduction
Harry Potter is an interesting story that many people like to read Harry Potter novel because the story is interesting and can make people feel cuorius with the next story. Every series has different story, the main purpose of the story is about Harry Potter face Lord Voldemort. In the sixth series of the novel, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, although the main character is Harry Potter but character of Lord Voldemort who is the enemy of Harry Potter, becomes interesting to analyze since many flashback scenes that tell about Lord Voldemort’s life before he became a strange black wizard in the world. Besides that, in this series, the character of Lord Voldemort is interesting to comprehend as we can see the character from Lord Voldemort starting when he was a child until he was adult and become a black wizard.
Theoretical Review
Character is the part of element in the novel that is firstly explored by the writer because it takes essential role to display any behavior of each character in the novel. There are two or more characters in the novel. Referring to their degree of playing role in the novel, thay can be grouped into two parts an main and minor character. Character is important in litetary works, because if there is only one character type in literary works, the story will be feel less. In literature, not only one character type can show up in literary works. It will be complete character for the story and make a story interesting. Abrams (1999; p.32) “The character is the name of a literary genre; it is a short, and usually witty, sketch in prose of a distinctive type of person. Characters are the person represented in a dramatic of narrative work, which are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with particular moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the persons say and their distinctive ways of saying itthe dialogue- and from what they do-the action”. Routledge, (2006;p23) “Character is the fictional representation of a person, which likely to change, both as a presence in literature and as an object of critical attention much as it changes in society.
Characters in literature consists of the different types of characters. A literature will be less if there is only have one type of character in the story. A variety of characters will attract the reader’s curiosity and make the complete and interesting story. There are some of types of character, antagonist character, protagonist character, flat character, round character, main character and peripheral character.. Certainly, in every story there is antagonist character. This character is important for the story because with this character the story will be interesting and can make complicated story. Some of people or reader didn’t like this character because they think antagonist character is bad and peripheral character. Every types of character have important part in the story. According to Subhan in “A Guide to Literary Criticism” antagonist character is enemy character. He write; “The antagonist in a novel usually refers to the enemy or the challenger of the protagonist”. (Subhan, 2003;p.10) Its theory explained that antagonist character is the character that the enemy of protagonist character and the challenger of protagonist also. Antagonist character can possibly be stated to be the opposite of protagonist character, directly or indirectly, either physically of physiocally.
In other words, the antagonist is the character, force or collection od forces that stands directly opposed the protagonist and gives rise to the conflict of the story. If there is antagonist character in the story, so there is also protagonist character. Protagonist character is very dominant character in the story or we can called the central character in the story. Protagonist character can called the hero or heroic character in the story. Bustami (2003;p.9) “The protagonist is the very central character or leading actor or actress. In a didactic novel, the protagonist usually the hero or the heroine that plays an important role in the story. The hero is usually a good man with good characteristic”. So, protagonist is the central character and usually a hero in some story. Protagonist also has good performance and has good characteristic. In the novel, there is a character that can unchanging from the beginning until the end of the story. It is called flat character. “Flat character is an unchanging characteristic from the beginning to the end of the story”. (Bustami, 2003;p.15).
Meanwhile Round character is interesting to discuss and analyze in the novel. This character experiences to change in the story in the novel. This character is different with flat character, because this character is changing from beginning until the end Round character is very complicated character, because this character in changing from the beginning until the end. Besides that it also makes the reader feel confused of the real character in the story.
Another way of characterizing is Major character that is usually the character in a story of novel, short story, movie and drama, who has the most importance in the story and does the most to support the plot. Major character are also vital to the development and resolution of conflict revolves around these characters. Major character is an important character in the story. “A major character is an important figure at the center of the story’s action or theme. Usually a character’s status as major or minor character is clear. The major character is sometimes called
a protagonist whose conflict with an antagonist may spark the story’s conflict”. (DiYanni, 2004;p.54). Minor character is to complete the major character and help move the plot events foward. Minor character usually a character that help a major character in the story. In the story not only have one minor character, there are many minor character in the story. Minor character is same with flat character, unchanging from the beginning until the end of the story. Like DiYanni statement, he said; “Minor characters are often static or unchanging: they remain the same from the beginning of a work to the end”. (DiYanni, 2004;p.54)
In a novel or plays characteristic is described both implicitly of explicitly from physic appearance, dialogues, actions, mind or thought, ways of life, attitude, and also through the direct description by the author. To know the character of Lord Voldemort’s as the main character, the writer will use the psychology theory. Psychology has contribution toward the literature criticism especially in analysing character’s types .
The theory of personality is needed to assess how the character behaves and in this writing case, psychology is about the behavior or mental someone and from that we can
know what the character of the person. Psychologycal and psychology have the same meaning. Based on quotation from the ideas of Wellek and Waren in their book “Theory of Literature” quoted by Subhan in “A Guide to Literary Criticism” that “By Psychology of literature we may mean the psychological study of the writer, as type and as individual, or the study of the creative
process, or the study of the psychological types and laws present within works of literature, or finally, the effects or literature upon it readers (audience psychology)”. (Subhan,2003;p.51). “Psychological criticism deals with of literature primarily as an expression, in fictional form, of state, of mind, and the structure of personality of the individual author”. (Abrams,1999;p.247) it Based on that statement, it explains that psychological criticism is about the personality of the author. It’s can be seen from the expression, mind and the structure of their personality. According some statements the writer get the conclusion that psychology is the study of someone behavior and mental processes, and psycological of literature as a means of psychology for the witer and also psychologycal criticism is deals primarily as an axpression, of state, mind and
structure of the personality of the author
Objectives
As indicated in the background, this study attempts to do the following:
- what are the characters type of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince novel?
- What is the dominant character of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince Novel?
Method
The writer analyzed the novel, Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince, where the main character seems having more interesting character development. The character or personality of Lord Voldemort, as the main character in this novel will be analyzed using the psychological approach. Using the psychological approach through Subhan’s theory, some types of characters of the Lord Voldemort and his dominant character will be revealed.
Randomly, each chapter of the novel is analyzed and find the related part with the object of analysis. the writer used formalistic approach and psychology approach in analyzing the data. The writer used the approaches to answer the first question of problem formulation which was stated in chapter one. This approach could help the writer find the answer to the questions in the research. The second approach answer second question. The writer used to this approach to understand the character based on psychology. Besides that, the writer used some psychological theories to find some issues in the research, Listing quotations from the novel to support the data, Creating hypothesis, about which the writer analyzed.
Findings and Discussion
The writer wants to analyze Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince novel by the writer is J.K. Rowling. The story is about struggle among Harry Potter, his friends and Dumbledore to get some information about Lord Voldemort. Lord Voldemort came back and it was a disaster for all people. Lord Voldemort wanted to be a strongest black wizard in the world. Before he got it, he was killed by Harry Potter but he never gave up. He asked his follower to awake him and finally he succeeded. Lord Voldemort came back and he wanted to kill Harry Potter. One day there was an incident in England. Some people were killed and Olivander a people that sell a wand was disappeared, and the situation in ministry of magic was at chaos. The prime minister of magic was replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour. All of people in the ministry were afraid of this situation and there was no one to brave enough to go anywhere alone. Harry Potter had assignment from Dumbledore to approach Horrace, a new teacher in Hogwarts. Harry Potter have gotten to Horrace to get information about Lord Voldemort in the past. After Harry got the information he might know how to kill Lord Voldemort, because there was a big secret to kill Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore said that Lord Voldemort was very strong and he could kill him easily. There are two findings that are elaborated in this chapter which are based on the research questions:
- The characters type of Lord Voldemort
There are 16 Personalities Factor that Cattell’s discovered which become reference in analyzing Katniss’ personalities:
- Protagonist Character
` Based on the chapter 13 page 253, it told about the moment when the first time Dumbledore met to Lord Voldemort in the orphanage. Dumbledore met and asked him to study in his school, school of magic and they called Hogwarts. Some children that have special power, exactly study in that place, and study the kind of magic and how to control their power. In the first time Voldemort didn’t believe that Dumbledore was a headmaster of the magic school, he thought that Dumbledore was a doctor that want to check him.
“who are you?
I have told you. My name is Professor Dumbledore and I work at a
school called Hogwarts. I have come to offer you a place at my
school – your new school, if you would like to come.
Riddle reaction to this was most surprising. He leapt from the bed
and backed away from Dumbledore, looking furious.
You can’t kid me! The asylum, that’s where you’re from, isn’t it?
Professor, yes, of course – well, I’m not going, see? That old cat’s
the one who should be in the asylum”. (chapter 13;p.253)
From that statements above, the writer could found that Voldemort was a person that could not easy to lie. He could not easy to believe to someone that the first time he met. Although by the appearance of Dumbledore, he still did not believe that Dumbledore was a professor and also it could not influence his thought, but he believed that Dumbledore was a doctor that would ask him to the asylum.
Based on the chapter 13 page 257, the story was about Dumbledore told to Voldemort to prepared everything that he needed when he was in the school. Dumbledore told to Voldemort from the small things until the big things that he needed. Dumbledore also told Voldemort could get all of the things in a place that only special sold the things of magic. Dumbledore offered to Voldemort to accompany him to got everything that he needed, but voldemort refused Dumbledore because he could lonely.
“You’re coming with me? Asked Riddle, looking up
Certainly, if you_
I don’t need you, said Riddle. I’m used to doing things for myself, I
go round London on my own all the time”. (Chapter 13; p.257)
I don’t need you, said Riddle. I’m used to doing things for myself, I
go round London on my own all the time”. (Chapter 13; p.257).
Based on that statement, the writer can tell that Voldemort is a independent person. He has done everything alone and never asked to other people to help him. Even he searched, he did not know. He was a strong person. He could face everything alone, might it because he habitual did it. So, he never felt difficult to did that.
- Antagonist Character
Based on chapter 4 page 63, Voldemort killed some people to made anarmy. He did that, for making strongest army, because after he killed, heused his power to made the people that had killed life again.
“they are corpses, said Dumbledore calmly. Dead bodies that have
been bewitched to do a Dark wizard’s bidding. Inferi have not been
seen for a long time, however, not since Voldemort was last
powerful… he killed enough people to make an army of them, of
course”. (Chapter 4;p.63)
The writer found that Voldemort was cruel person. He killed some people and made them life again. He killed for himself and to made himself strong. He never felt care with some people that he had killed.
In chapter 13 p. 250, it told about when Voldemort in the orphanage and when he was still a children. Dumbledore got some story about Voldemort when he was child from the keeper of the orphanage, her name was Mrs. Cole. Mrs. Cole told everything about Voldemort, she told that Voldemort was odd. He always made other children scared with him, and many incident happened in there but Mrs. Cole could not prove that Voldemort did it.
“She squinted at him as though deciding whether or not to trust him.
apparently she decided she could, because she said in a sudden rush.
He scares the other children.
You mean he is a bully? Asked Dumbledore
I think he must be, said Mrs. Cole, frowning slightly, but it’s very
hard to catch him at it”. (Chapter 13;p.250)
Based on that statement, the writer could tell that Voldemort was bad children. He had make his friends scared to him with everything that he did to them. He always covered up all of the things that he did to his friends and made Mrs. Cole could not prove it. Even though Mrs. Cole could not catch him, she still felt that Voldemort did that to his friends.
In chapter 17 page 341, it told about when Voldemort visited his family. At that time, Voldemort wanted to know where he was from, was he from a strong wizard or other and he wanted to make sure that his father was a strong wizard not his mother, and finally he got the truth about his life. He was from a Muggle family that he called didn’t have a power of
magic. His father was a Muggle and he knew that his father left him when he was in his mother womb.
“YOU! He bellowed, YOU!
And he hurtled drunkenly at Riddle, wand and knife held aloft.
STOP
Riddle spoken in Parseltongue. The man skidded into the table,
sending mouldly pots crashing to the floor…………….
You speak it?
Yes, I speak it, said Riddle. He move forwards into the room,
allowing the door to swing shut behind him. Harry could not help but
feel a resentful admiration for Voldemort’s complete lack of fear. His
face merely expressed disgust and perhaps disappointment”.
(Chapter 17;p.341)
The writer could find that Voldemort was a tempered person, and he also a person that never scared with everything. Even he faced them and only expressed disgust and disappointment to them. Although they were his family, he did not care about that because he only though that he must revenge what they had did to him. Voldemort did not have humanity feeling, so he could did that to his family.
- The dominant character of Lord Voldemort
After the writer had analyzed the data, the dominant character of Lord Voldemort was antagonist, because based on some analysis and the data that the writer got from the novel many antagonist character that could find in that story. Although, there were some protagonist character of Lord Voldemort, but antagonist character more showed up.
The antagonist character could show to start when Lord Voldemort lived in the orphanage. He made scared other childrens with his power or his ability. He could do that because influenced by the environment in the orphanage. In the orphanage, there was no one who wanted to became his friends, the children avoid him,because the children though that he was odd, even though the keeper of the orphanage Mrs. Cole had same thinking with the other children. It was happen in the chapter 13 page 250. Lord Voldemort also had ability but, the other people did not have. He could make the thing moved without touch, he could talk to the animal and he could make people hurt if he wanted or if there were people who annoyed him. He was a people that did not have a humanity feeling. He never saw who had hurt by him. Lord Voldemort was also a murder. He had killed his family because he hated to his family that did not want him and he did that because he revenge to his family. He killed Hepzibah to got the things that he wanted. Hepzibah had things that was very valuable and Lord Voldemort interested to that thing, but Hepzibah did not sold the things. Because of that Lord Voldemort killed Hepzibah and took the things from her. Lord Voldemort would do anything to got whatever that he wanted, even thought he should murdered. Lord Voldemort also killed Harry Potter’s parents. Lord Voldemort killed Harry Potter’s parents when Harry was one years old. The reason Lord Voldemort killed Harry’s parents was he knew that he would defeate by the wizards that very strong, and he tought that Harry’s parents was the strong wizard and became threat for him to became a strongest black wizard in the world.
Conclusion
The result of this writing is to know the character types and the most dominant of Lord Voldemort’s character. After analyzing step by step, comprehending related theories, and preparing required technique, as the final point the writer analysed the character using the psychological approach and reveals some character types of Lord Voldemort’s.
Based on the Abrams theory that antagonist character is the enemy or the challenger of the protagonist character, and Lord Voldemort can be an antagonist character because he is a challenger character, and also Lord Voldemort was a bad person in the story. Since he lived in the orphanage, many odd incident happened in there. He killed some people, killed his families, made some people hurt, and could doing anything to got something that he wanted without think or feel fault. He only thinks for himself without think the others. He wanted to be a strongest black wizard in the world. So, because of his obsession become a strongest black wizard, he become an evil. He was a person that never had humanity feeling, he never care who had he killed or who has he make hurt although they are his family.
Based on John W. Santrock theory that psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes, and the writer can know the dominant character of Lord Voldemort. It could be proved when Lord Voldemort lived in the orphanage. He ever stolen his friends toys. So, from his behavior it can influence his behavior when he adult. When he was child, he stolen his friends toys and when he adult he stolen the other people things that he did to Hepzibah. He took the trophy and a cup from Hepzibah and killed Hepzibah after he got it. Lord Voldemort can be bad person because the condition of his environment. When he lived in the orphanage, he didn’t have friends and felt alone, it could influence his mental and make him to be bad person.
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